The Recovering Choir Director

From an Internet cafe.

The choir schedule has been incredibly demanding, both in Bavaria as well as Dusseldorf-Cologne.

To be with other young, enthusiastic, and prayerful pilgrims has been an amazing experience.

I rather regret not having constant Internet access, since the experience has far surpassed that in Toronto. However, our time has been very tight.

Yesterday a group of Juventutem pilgrims from the USA and Australia were able to see Benedict XVI from the Cologne cathedral square where he gave his address. More importantly, we were able to pray the Pater noster with him and respond to the pontifical blessings in the Latin language. That is one regret I have always had about WYD 2002, where I could not physically join my voice to the late Pope John Paul II’s as he prayed in Latin the Pater Noster at the Papal Mass.

There really is no excuse not to learn prayers in Latin, especially for gatherings such as these, which may be once-in-a-lifetime events for many.

Today is Pontifical Vespers at St. Antonius Church in Dusseldorf. Francis Cardinal Arinze will be celebrating it, we will be singing it, and he will give a talk afterwards. Should be very interesting.

God bless you all.

Oremus pro invicem!